Soft Food or Starbucks: McCarthy and Biden Exchange Jabs Amid Debt Ceiling Standoff

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) and President Joe Biden have been going back and forth with verbal barbs over who should make the first move in scheduling a meeting to discuss the debt ceiling. The two had a meeting in February, but since then, neither party wants to initiate another meeting.

McCarthy claims that he has been asking to sit with President Biden for months but the President is “making the decision that he wants to put the economy in jeopardy.” McCarthy even joked that he would bring lunch to the White House, even if it’s just soft food. Jean-Pierre, the White House press secretary, jokingly replied that the President can pick out his own Starbucks.

Both parties have repeated their familiar talking points on this issue. President Biden wants Republicans to make a concrete budget proposal and avoid vague spending cuts while McCarthy maintains his willingness to negotiate at any time.

Two days prior to this verbal exchange, on March 28, McCarthy sent a letter requesting a second meeting. Biden replied stating there is no point in meeting before Republicans unveil their budget proposal.